Improvement in bale-band stretchers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES Z. STOCKEE, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BALE-BAND STRETCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 170,411, dated November 23, 1875; application led July 2, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES Z. STocKEE, of the city and county ot' Charleston, and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and Improved Bale-Bandv Stretcher; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, ret'- erence being had to the accompanying drawing, forming vpart of this specication, in Which- Figure lis a side elevation; Figs. 2, 3, 4, detail views.

The invention relates to hay or cotton presses, wherein the follower and platen are grooved to allow the tie-band to be secured on the bale after compression, but before removal.

The invention consists in certain novel means whereby the band may be drawn more tightly about the bale, and at the same time be prevented from slipping. These means will rst be described in connectionv with l drawing, and then pointed out in the claim.

A represents a lever, which is suspended in a strap, F, by a cord, B, that passes over pulleys C C, and has a counter-weight, D, so as to be above the press and out oi' the way at ordinary times, but readily pulled down and into the required position for use when needed. This lever is provided with an extensible handle, which is secured, when adjusted, to the required length by a spring-latch, O, whose projection tits into notches in the lever. A greater or less leverage can thus be at any time obtained. Depending from the strap F', by means of a rod, J, that is adjustable in the strap, is a pivoted claw, H, that is readily hooked to a rigid cross-bar, I, in front of press. Bolted to the outer end of the lever is a catch, E, to which the cottonband to be tightened is hooked and tightly held, while the lever draws it through the buckle and around the bale. To prevent the other end of band from slipping, I use a wedge,`

L, which I place in the groove or grooves of upper platen or ibllower'preparatory to the tightening operation, the slotted side l resting on the band, while the serrated cam M, having a slot, m, and pivoted longitudinally therein, bears with greater force at every slip, however small, of the buckle end of band.

In order to enable pressure of cam to be rey moved from band,.(should band part when pressure is put on them by levers,) I use a sliding rod, which passes over upper face of cam, forces it, by virtue ot' slot, down over the pivot, and compels it to protrude on under side of wedge.

When the rod is withdrawn the cam ceases to bite upon band, and allows Wedge to drop out of openings in platen, when band can be replaced. The rod may be prevented from coming out by a collar, which works against shoulder in wedge.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is-v l. The combination ofthe claw H and catch E with the lever A and rigid bar, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The lever A, suspended by a cord, having a counter-Weight, in combination with the strap F, extensible rod J, and claw H, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The slotted Wedge L, provided with serrated cam M, having a slot, 1n, in combination with a sliding rod, N, as and for the purpose specied.

JAMES Z. STOCKER.

Witnesses:

C. L. EDWARDS, G. W. SToUT. 

